In 1870, partners S. E. Stratton and James B. Michener established a machine shop and foundry under the name of Stratton & Michener. This business was located in Anderson, Indiana, motivated by financial incentives offered by the town. In December 1871 a fire destroyed their moulding house, which presumably placed a financial strain on the partners. In 1872 Stratton left the partnership and the business incorporated that August as the Michener Machine Works. They had 25 employees at the time and manufactured steam engines and sawmill machinery among other products.

The Financial Panic of 1873 marked the beginning of a difficult economic period that listed six years. We can only guess that Michener Machine Works went under in 1874 as it suddenly disappeared from the records. Later that same year, Michener moved back to his former home town of Kokomo and opened the Star Machine Works.

Information Sources

• From the 1871-12-15 Terre Haute Daily Gazette.

  ANDERSON, IND., Dec. 15.—A destructive fire occurred here last night, by which the building used for moulding purposes connected with the Michener Machine Works, was entirely consumed. Two frame dwelling houses were much damaged by the fire. The loss of Stratton & Michener will be about $3,000.

• Listed in the 1874 work, Wiley's American iron trade manual of the leading iron industries of the United States: "Michener Machine Works - Proprietors, S. E. Stratton, J. B. Michener. Character of product, steam-engines, flouring and saw-mill machinery, castings, etc. Location of works, Anderson, Madison County."
• The 1874 book, History of Madison County, Indiana, from 1820 to 1874, by Samuel Harden.

  The Michener Machine Works, on the north end of Jackson street, Anderson, was started in 1870. Incorporated into a company, on August 1st, 1872. The capital stock is $30,000. D. W. Swank, President; James Hazelett, Geo. Nichol, Samuel Kiser, Abe Michener and James Michener, compose the company. These shops employ twenty-five hands.

• From a genealogy website, which did not give sources.

  James Michener was the seventh of eight children, born to James and Eliza (Rakestraw) Michener, both natives of PA. James went to common schools and worked on the farm until he was 15, when he began to learn the machinist trade, working as an apprentice for three years. In the Fall of 1859 he started a saw mill in Howard County, IN. In 1870 he was one of the parties that established the Michener Machine works in Anderson, IN. In 1874 he went to Kokomo and started his Star Machine Works which did a business of $25,000 per annum. He was always a Republican until after the Hayes election when he joined the National Party.

  The site notes that he died in 1902, age 63. It also notes that Hollis Michener was born in 1885 and was 45 years of age, which implies the source is from about 1929.
• The 1883 book, Counties of Howard and Tipton, IN.

  J. B. MICHENER, proprietor of the Star Machine Works, was born July 20, 1838, in Columbiana County, Ohio, and was the seventh of eight children born to James and Eliza (Rakestraw) Michener, both natives of Pennsylvania. J. B. Michener went to the common schools and worked on the firm until he was fifteen years old, when he began to learn the machinist trade, working as an apprentice three years. In the Fall of 1859, he came to Howard County and started a saw mill. In 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Thirty-ninth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, as a private. His regiment wintered in Kentucky, and in the spring he was honorably discharged on account of disability, when he came home to recruit. In the spring of 1865, he assisted in recruiting Company G, One Hundred and Sixty-second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and went out as Captain with Col. E. Ball in charge. He was one who received a meritorious letter from President Lincoln. He served until the close of the war, when he returned to Canton, Ohio, and the following fall came back to Kokomo, and engaged in the machine business, until 1870, when he went to Anderson, and was one of the parties that established the Michener Machine Works. In 1874, he returned to Kokomo and established his present business, in which he now employs twelve hands and does a business of $25,000 per annum. Mr. Michener was married, in 1859, to Bliss Mary Dunbar, of Stark County, Ohio. She was born January 12, 1842. This union has been blessed with nine children, three of whom are living - Mollie, Florence and Aceneth. Mr. and Mrs. Michener are members of the United Order of Honor, and Mr. Michener is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Knights of Honor. He had always been a Republican, until after Hayes' election when he joined the National party. In 1882, he was candidate on this ticket for County Clerk, and was defeated by 247 votes, against the usual majority of 1,000 or 1,300. Mr. Michener is one of the enterprising business men of Central Indiana, and is building up an extended trade.

• 1964-09-24 Indianapolis Star.

  Hollis Michener Kokomo, Ind.—Funeral services for Hollis Michener, 80 years old, Kokomo, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Fenn Funeral Home. Burial will be in Crown Point Cemetery. Mr. Michener, former owner of the Michener Machine Works here, died Tuesday night at the Kokomo Convalescent Center. A native of Kokomo, he attended Kokomo High School and Valparaiso University. He was a member of the Grace Methodist Church and the Howard Masonic Lodge. Survivors include the widow, Mrs. Grace Michener; a son, Dr. Richard Michener of Kokomo, and three...

  It seems likely that "Michener Machine Works" was a misstatement of "Star Machine Works".
• From a 1990 form nominating Anderson, IN's downtown for the National Register of Historic Places.

  When tree stands gave out, city officials successfully lured Michener Machine Works to Anderson with the promise of a subsidy – a first in the city’s history.